A lock assembly is provided which includes a lock mechanism with cover, and a pair of vertically movable locking rods. The lock mechanism is readily mountable to a liner of a cabinet door by a clamp member which permits initial clamping of the mechanism on an inner liner of the door, after which the
A lock assembly is provided which includes a lock mechanism with cover, and a pair of vertically movable locking rods. The lock mechanism is readily mountable to a liner of a cabinet door by a clamp member which permits initial clamping of the mechanism on an inner liner of the door, after which the inner liner is mounted to an outer finish panel. After assembly of the inner liner to the outer panel, the lock assembly is clamped in an aligned position in alignment with a corresponding lock aperture in the outer panel. The lock assembly further includes a fastener-free connector arrangement between a lock rack of the lock mechanism and the locking rods which is slidably driven thereby. A cover is snap fittingly mounted on the inner liner to guide the locking rod and prevent disengagement from the lock rack.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A door assembly for a storage cabinet comprising: a door having a lock window therein within an interior portion thereof, which said window has an edge comprising crosswise spaced-apart edge portions, and at least one locking rod which is slidably supported by said door so as
What is claimed is: 1. A door assembly for a storage cabinet comprising: a door having a lock window therein within an interior portion thereof, which said window has an edge comprising crosswise spaced-apart edge portions, and at least one locking rod which is slidably supported by said door so as to be movable in a drive direction along a respective slide path, said at least one locking rod having a lock end disposed adjacent an edge of said door so as to be movable to an extended position to lock the door and a retracted position to permit opening of said door, said at least one locking rod further including a drive end disposed proximate said lock window; and a lock mechanism having a lock housing mounted to said door such that said lock mechanism is disposed within said lock window, said lock mechanism further including at least one lock rack which is slidable in a drive direction along a respective drive path and said lock mechanism further including an actuator accessible from an exterior of said door to effect selected displacement of said at least one lock rack along said respective drive path during operation of said lock mechanism, said at least one lock rack and said drive end of said at least one locking rod being transversely engagable with each other during assembly thereof such that displacement of said at least one lock rack along said respective drive path effects displacement of said at least one locking rod along said respective slide path during operation of said lock mechanism to effect locking and unlocking of said door, said drive end of said at least one locking rod and said at least one lock rack including cooperating engagement portions which define an engagement path extending in a transverse direction oriented transverse to said drive path and extending crosswise relative to said lock window, said engagement portions being inter-fitted with each other during assembly by displacement of said drive end in an engaging first direction along said engagement path to transversely engage said engagement portions with each other, said at least one lock rack including a transverse slot which has an open slot end that opens sidewardly transverse to said drive path and a closed slot end spaced transversely away from said open slot end wherein said slot defines said engagement path extending between said open and closed slot ends, said drive end being slidably insertable transversely into said transverse slot of said at least one lock rack in said first direction through said open slot end and being movable along said engagement path so as to be seated within said closed slot end to assemble said at least one locking rod with said at least one lock rack, said engagement portions being defined by transversely-extending edges of said slot and a narrowed portion of said drive end which interfit together, said interfitted engagement portions being interfit to permit reversible transverse displacement of said drive end relative to said at least one lock rack along said engagement path in said first direction and an opposite second direction to effect transverse engagement and disengagement of said engagement portions during assembly and disassembly while simultaneously preventing separating displacement of said drive end relative to said at least one lock rack in said drive direction such that said at least one locking rod is displaced along said respective slide path in unison with said at least one lock rack when moving along said respective drive path during operation of said at least one lock rack; and a lock mechanism cover which is releasably fixed to said door so as to overlie said lock mechanism, said cover including a rod guide for said at least one locking rod which defines a guide slot that opens into said lock window and receives said at least one locking rod after assembly of said at least one locking rod and said at least one lock rack, said guide slot limiting movement of said drive end crosswise to said lock window to restrain said reversible transverse displacement of said drive end of said at least one locking rod in said first and second directions along said engagement path which prevents transverse disengagement and disassembly of said at least one locking rod from said at least one lock rack in said second direction, said rod guide permitting longitudinal sliding of said at least one locking rod along said respective slide path when driven by said at least one lock rack during operation. 2. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cover is snap-lockingly engaged to said door. 3. The door assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cover snap-lockingly engages said edge of said window within said door. 4. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein said narrowed portion comprises a grooved portion formed in said drive end which receives the edges of said slot of said at least one lock rack therein. 5. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein transverse displacement of said drive end relative to said at least one lock rack in said second direction along said engagement path and transverse disengagement of said at least one locking rod along said engagement path from said at least one lock rack are solely prevented by said cover which prevents disengaging transverse displacement of said drive end along said engagement path in said second direction. 6. A method of assembling a lock assembly to a door wherein said door comprises an outer panel and an inner liner which is mountable to said outer panel, said method comprising the steps of: providing said inner liner separate from said outer panel, said inner liner having opposite first and second side surfaces on opposite first and second liner sides; providing a lock mechanism having a lock housing and a clamp member supported by said lock housing, said lock housing and said clamp member defining respective opposed first and second clamp surfaces wherein said first and second clamp surfaces face towards each other and define a clamping space therebetween; clamping said lock assembly to said inner liner in an initial position by capturing said inner liner in said clamping space between said lock housing disposed on said first liner side and said clamp member disposed on said second liner side and drawing said first and second clamp surfaces toward each other with said first and second clamp surfaces being drawn respectively toward and respectively acting on said first and second side surfaces of said inner liner so that said inner liner is clamped by said first and second clamp surfaces wherein said first and second clamp surfaces directly contact said first and second side surfaces; and affixing said inner liner to said outer panel to define a door assembly wherein said lock assembly is aligned with a corresponding lock aperture in said outer panel such that said lock mechanism is positioned adjacent the lock aperture by the respective positioning of said inner liner. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of initially clamping said lock mechanism to said inner liner in a preliminary condition wherein said lock mechanism is supported by but movable on said inner liner along said first and second side surfaces, inserting an alignment member through said lock aperture of said outer panel when said inner panel and said outer panel are affixed together, positioning said alignment member and said lock mechanism to displace said lock mechanism along said first and second side surfaces to a desired position, and finally clamping said clamp assembly to said inner liner in a stationary position. 8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of providing fasteners between said lock housing of said lock mechanism and said clamp member wherein the clamping step further comprises the step of finally tightening said fasteners to draw said lock housing and said clamp member together with said inner liner disposed therebetween in said clamping space and to affix said lock mechanism in a stationary position on said inner liner after said inner liner is affixed to said outer panel. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said lock assembly is finally positioned after said inner liner is affixed to said outer liner, and after said final positioning, said lock mechanism being affixed in said stationary position. 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein said door includes slidable locking rods which are drivingly engaged to said lock mechanism to effect locking and unlocking of said door by operation of said lock mechanism, said method further comprising the step of attaching drive ends of said locking rods to said lock mechanism after said inner liner is affixed to said outer panel. 11. A lock mechanism for a door comprising: a lock housing adapted to receive a lock plug therein to drivingly rotate a cam member, said lock plug being accessible from a front of said lock housing; at least one lock rack slidably supported on said lock housing so as to be movable linearly along a drive path, said at least one lock rack being engaged with said rotatable cam member such that rotation of said cam member effects linear displacement of said at least one lock rack along said drive path, said at least one lock rack including a transverse slot which has an open slot end that opens sidewardly transverse to said drive path and a closed slot end spaced transversely away from said open slot end wherein said slot defines an engagement path extending between said open and closed slot ends, said engagement path being oriented transverse to said drive path; at least one locking rod slidably supported on a door, said at least one locking rod having a drive end adjacent said lock mechanism which slidably inserts transversely into said transverse slot of said at least one lock rack in a first direction through said open slot end and is movable along said engagement path so as to be seated within said closed slot end to assemble said at least one locking rod with said at least one lock rack, transversely-extending edges of said slot interfitting with a narrowed portion of said drive end to permit transverse sliding of said drive end between said open and closed slot ends in said first direction and an opposite second direction during assembly and disassembly while said edges simultaneously prevent relative movement between said at least one lock rack and said at least one locking rod in the direction of said drive path during both assembly and operation of said lock mechanism such that movement of said at least one lock rack along said drive path effects displacement of said at least one locking rod during operation; and a clamp member releasably mounted to said lock housing which is engageable with fasteners to clampingly mount said lock housing to a thin door panel during assembly therewith wherein said lock housing and said clamp member define opposed clamping surfaces which define a space therebetween which is configured to receive the door panel therebetween in clamped engagement, and wherein said fasteners draw said clamping surfaces together for fixed clamping engagement with said door panel; and said lock plug being accessible from a forward side of said lock mechanism and said clamp member being engaged to said lock housing by said fasteners which are accessible from a rear of said lock housing to draw said clamping surfaces together. 12. The lock mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said clamp member has a relatively narrow shape which permits insertion into an elongated slot on said door panel and rotation of said lock mechanism to position said clamp member in a clamping position for subsequent clamping by said fasteners. 13. The lock mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said at least one lock rack has an upstanding flange at an end thereof which defines said engagement slot. 14. The lock mechanism according to claim 13, which further includes a removable guide cover which encloses a rear of said lock housing, said guide cover including guides which project from a main body thereof for guiding engagement with said at least one locking rod to restrain transverse displacement of said at least one locking rod out of engagement with said at least one lock rack when said cover is in a fixed position relative to said lock housing. 15. The lock mechanism according to claim 14, wherein said cover includes snap connectors for snap fitting engagement of said cover to a door panel after said lock assembly is clamped in position. 16. The lock mechanism according to claim 15, wherein said cover is a molded plastic cover. 17. The lock mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said lock plug is removable from a bore defined within said lock housing, said lock mechanism further including an alignment tool which is fittable into said bore in the absence of said lock plug to permit manual positioning of said lock assembly within a door panel for subsequent clamping by said clamp member. 18. The lock mechanism according to claim 17, wherein said alignment tool is removable from said bore to permit insertion of said lock plug after said lock assembly is mounted to said door panel. 19. A cabinet door assembly comprising: an outer door panel defined by a rigid thin skin defining an outer surface of said door assembly and including a lock aperture therein; an inner door member mountable to the interior of said outer panel, said inner door member comprising opposite first and second sides, which define first and second side faces, and comprising a lock mounting window disposed adjacent said lock aperture; a lock mechanism containing a lock unit alignable with said lock aperture for releasably locking said door assembly, said lock mechanism including a lock housing positionable within said lock mounting window and a clamping member movably supported on said lock housing which captures said inner door member between a first surface of said clamping member, which is disposed on said first side of said inner door member in direct contact with said first side face, and an opposing second surface on said lock housing, which is disposed on said second side in direct contact with said second side face, said edge portions of said lock mounting window being clamped tightly by said clamping member acting on said first side face of said first side and said lock housing acting on said second side face of said second side with said lock mechanism fixedly secured within said lock window adjacent said lock aperture of said outer door panel. 20. The door assembly according to claim 19, wherein said inner door member comprises an inner liner defined as a thin skin which is mountable to said outer door panel in facing relation. 21. The door assembly according to claim 20, wherein said lock housing includes a hub in which said lock unit is mounted, said hub having an outer hub surface and said clamping member being a ring which is mountable in surrounding relation to said hub and clamps said edge portions between said ring and said lock housing. 22. The door assembly according to claim 21, wherein said lock mechanism includes engagement members engagable between said lock housing and said clamping member to draw said lock housing and said clamping member together to thereby clampingly engage said window edges. 23. The door assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lock housing includes a space transversely adjacent said engagement portion of said at least one lock rack which receives said drive end when disengaged from said at least one lock rack and which permits transverse displacement of said drive end from said space to an engaged position where said engagement portions are transversely engaged, said cover restraining said drive end to prevent return transverse displacement of said drive end in said second direction back to said space when said cover is fixed to said door while said engagement portions prevent separation of said drive end from said at least one lock rack in said drive direction.
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